Rugby: Powerful Northlanders earn rare away victory

Southland 25 Northland 41


Northland claimed their first away win over Southland since 1991 with a deserved success in their opening-round NPC first-division rugby clash at Homestead Stadium in Invercargill.

Northland scored five tries to two, capitalising on turnovers and feeble home-team defence in the second half.

However, the young and new-look Southland team did not give up, finishing strongly for a well-executed Mal Arnold try a minute from fulltime.

Northland, playing into the wind, blew Southland away in the first 10 minutes, quickly posting 10 points.

Powerful No 8 Samiu Vahafolau split the Southland forwards like matchwood in one telling charge which almost set up Norman Berryman and his supports for a try.

Vahafolau's combination with industrious flankers Justin Collins and Brett Waaka made for an efficient Northland loose forward unit which often had Southland under pressure. Vahafolau was a reliable means of crossing the advantage line.

Fullback Hayden Taylor was another Northland hero, bagging two tries and a further 16 points from the boot with five conversions and two penalties. He was an effective counter-attacker, who chose options wisely and communicated soundly.

Captain Glenn Taylor's commanding presence was another invaluable Northland asset.

Southland coach Leicester Rutledge said missed first tackles, vital turnovers, poor body position and patchy ball retention handicapped his team.

But the former All Black flanker was satisfied with his team's late comeback for a deserved try on time.

Arnold came off the bench to inject vibrance into the Southland backs from first five-eighths, whereas starter David Hill seemed slightly pedestrian in that position.

Mobile and powerful No 8 Matt O'Connell was Southland's man of the match, with his high workrate and telling charges.

- NZPA